《中英對照讀新聞》Crocodile blood may yield anti-HIV drugs 鱷魚血或許能提煉出抗愛滋病毒藥物

◎ 陳成良

Scientists in Australia are collecting blood from crocodiles in the hope of developing a powerful new antibiotic for humans.

澳洲科學家正從鱷魚身上採集血液，期能開發出一種強效的新抗生素供人類使用。

The crocodile's immune system is much more resilient than that of humans, and tests have shown that the reptiles are able to kill off the HIV virus.

鱷魚的免疫系統比人類的免疫系統頑強許多，試驗結果顯示，這種爬蟲類能夠殲滅愛滋病毒。

Their immune system works differently from that of humans, attacking infections as soon as they occur in the body. It is hoped the powerful antibodies could be harnessed into antibiotics to fight ulcer wounds, burns and other infections.

牠們的免疫系統運作方式與人類的不同，會在身體受到感染時馬上發動攻擊。科學家希望將這種強效的抗體製成抗生素，來治療潰瘍傷口、燒燙傷及其他感。

Adam Britton, one of the scientists collecting crocodiles' blood in Australia's Northern Territory, said: “If you take a test tube of HIV and add crocodile serum it will have a greater effect than human serum. It can kill a much greater number of HIV viral organisms.”

亞當•布里頓是在澳洲北領地採集鱷魚血的科學家之一，他說：「如果你拿一個試管的HIV病毒，加入鱷魚血清，它的功效會比使用人類血清還高，能夠殺死更多愛滋病病毒性有機體。」

However, the antibodies may be too powerful for humans and it could be a long time before they are successfully adapted for human consumption.

然而，這種抗體對人體來說可能威力太強，而且可能要一段長久時間才能成功改造，為人體所接受。

新聞辭典

HIV：為Human Immunodeficiency Virus的縮寫，即「人類免疫缺陷病毒」，通常稱為愛滋病毒，因為感染這種病毒會導致愛滋病（AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome，後天性免疫不全症候群）。

antibiotic：抗生素，是微生物的代謝產物或合成的類似物，在體內能抑制微生物的生長和存活，對宿主不會產生嚴重副作用。

kill off：片語，殺光、滅絕。例句：The trees were killed off by the severe winter. （嚴冬把樹木都凍死了）。